Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 63

The Pre-Long Beach Auction of US, World Coins and Currency

$3 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1474		Withdrawn Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1475		1854-O. PCGS graded AU-55. A decent strike in natural greenish color gold with choice surfaces enlarging the overall effect of originality provided by the high AU grade. Only 24,000 struck. We challenge any bidder to find a comparable smooth-surfaced AU55. The task might be daunting! Pop 36 (PCGS # 7971) . It has been suggested that the $3 had utility in the purchase of 100-subject sheets of three-cent stamps, or the acquisition of silver three-cent pieces in quantities of 100. In any event, the $3 proved to be less than convenient, and after the first year of coinage, production dropped sharply. In a way the same general pattern was followed by certain other series of the time, including the silver and nickel three-cent pieces and the two-cent piece. All were launched to high hopes, but the first several years proved to be the times of glory, followed by a decline. The new $3 denomination was designed by James B. Longacre, who became chief engraver at the Mint in 1844, after the death of Christian Gobrecht. The obverse features the head of an Indian princess, facing left, wearing a feathered headdress upon which is a band inscribed LIBERTY. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds. The same motif was later used on the Type III gold dollar 1856-1889. The denomination DOLLARS in in small letters on the 1854-P,O and D issues; it is in larger letters from 1855 until the end of the series (1889). Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. The Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1476		1854-O. NGC graded AU-55. Untoned. Only 24,000 struck. Popular as the only "O" mint $3.00 gold coin. For the date, a slightly frosty, pale golden AU with residual warm gold hints within the letters of the legends on both sides. No objectionable marks. Choice rims free of bumps and breaks in the denticles. Attractively struck as well, with just a hint of softness at STATES OF AMERICA as well as on the mintmark and ribbon bow of the wreath (PCGS # 7971) . Historical associations: Amusing things happen in a nation as diverse as the United States was in the 19th Century. Even in 1854, the year that this rare Three Gold Dollar saw first light, the American government was up to its usual pie-in-the-sky experiments. It was around this time that the Congress appropriated $30,000 to create the U.S. Camel Corps., an experiment by the army in using camels as pack animals in the Southwest United States. While the camels proved to be well-suited to travel through the region, their unpleasant disposition and habit of frightening horses is believed to be responsible for their failure to be adopted as a mode of transportation in the United States. The plan fizzled in the early 1860s with the onset of the Civil War. The idea of using camels for military transport in the U.S. dated back to 1836, when second lieutenant George H. Crossman began pressuring the United States Department of War to use camels in campaigns against Native Americans in Florida. It was not until after the U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) that the idea was taken seriously. One has to wonder, Why is it that so many schemes are "taken seriously" by the government officials? Is it because they are using Other People's Money (OPM) to hatch out their plans? Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,613
Lot 1477		1854-O NGC graded AU Details. Obverse damage. Only 24,000 pieces struck. The only "O" mint $3 Gold coin. Lightly toned; a few random field marks consistent with this grade. Scarce. The $3 denomination, which was rarely popular with the public, continued to be issued in small numbers until 1889 when the denomination was eliminated along with the gold dollar and nickel three-cent piece (PCGS # 7971) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,783
Lot 1478		1855. PCGS graded MS-62. Even greenish-golden color on both sides. Only 50,555 struck and a far cry from the first year's mintage. This is a very pleasing gold specimen with soft-gold mint bloom, more than adequately struck and preserved virtually flaw-free. Normal detail on all devices is typical for this issue; with present specimen we see a sharp areas in the feathers bounded by a few regions where the crisp strike recedes to minor rounding on the top feather puffs, the lower hair curls, as well as the ribbon bow binding together the two halves of Longacre's Wreath of Cereals. Pop 61; 77 finer (PCGS # 7972) . Estimated Value $3,200 - 3,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,990
Lot 1479		1855. Our grade is Sharpness of EF cleaned. After a large first-year production run in 1854, $3 mintage declinied by three-quarters at the Philadelphia Mint in 1855. Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 1480		1857. PCGS graded AU-50. Even light golden color. Well struck P-mint date. Only the 1854-P is common in this decade; immediately thereafter, coinage tumbled at Philadelphia. By 1857, only 20,891 were struck (PCGS # 7976) . Estimated Value $1,050 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,323
Lot 1481		1882. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo CAC Approved. A dazzling untoned cameo Proof and a Premium Quality coin for the grade. Only 76 Proofs struck for this low mintage date. With an extant population of perhaps 40-50 coins, the 1882 is one of the more frequently encountered issues in the Proof Three-dollar gold series. That being said, we do not mean to imply that the 1882 is "common," for such a word has no place when referring a Proof 19th century gold coin struck in the U.S. Mint. Indeed, the 1882 is a legitimately rare coin that, when offered at all, often grades much lower than present level. Attractive in all regards, this boldly contrasted near-Gem possesses deeply mirrored fields that form a grand arena for the satiny, sharply impressed devices. The color is an even yellow-gold blend, and we note that the fields appear to "go black" as the coin is tilted away from a light. None but the most trivial hairlines are present, while these features do little more than define the Proof 64 grade. A truly commendable specimen that would grace any collection by its presence. Pop 4; 1 in 64+ Cameo, 2 in 65 Cameo. (PCGS # 88046) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $24,725
Lot 1482		1882. NGC graded MS-64. A splendid and very choice example. Well struck with delicate light golden toning over flashy reflective fields. Only 1500 made. Both obverse and reverse are significantly above average in luster, mostly prooflike, and exhibit an attractive light greenish gold color. The eye appeal is clearly outstanding, a consideration that goes beyond the assigning of a Mint State 64 numerical grade. All told this is one of the better $3s of any date in the 1880s you can hope to obtain. In opposition to the 1882 Proofs, all circulation strikes show traces of repunching above the final date digit. It is not an overdate. Pop 16, 22 finer (PCGS # 8004) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,350
Lot 1483		1884. PCGS graded Proof 64. A gorgeous glittering proof specimen further enhanced by the lovely delicate golden sunset toning. This is a visually striking example of the date, here with mostly unfrosted motifs yet mirrored fields that display much mint sparkle. An attractive Proof $3 from a mintage whose pieces, rather than being struck all at once, were delivered in small groups from the Medal Department at the Mint throughout the year, and as called for by public demand. It may be the case that only 70 or 80 Proofs of the 1884 issue are still left in collectors' hands, which makes for uncertain availability when today's collectors desire a delightful specimen for a Proof gold collection. We note here with pleasure original patina which certainly speaks volumes about the inherent quality of this beautiful coin. Only 106 Proofs struck. Pop 13; 9 finer (PCGS # 8048) . Die characteristics of the 1884 Proofs: Most of J visible, more than half of BL gone; tops of U and bases of A(M) and (C)A joined; R and triangles of all three A's filled; light partial extra outlines on RICA. Die polish in feathers above right arm of T(Y), below ear, and on neck. Dentils joined. Reverse. Date slightly below center, slanting minutely down to right; 84 touch. Right upright of 1 below left tip of L, right upright of 4 below space between AR. Extra outlines within and atop 3, outer upper left wreath, and ribbon ends. Unpolished area occupies slightly over half of left bow. Dentils mostly joined, with inner circle about 3:00-6:00, 9:00-11:00. Estimated Value $15,000 - 16,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1484		1888. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck gem glittering with luster, untoned. Rare low mintage date as a mere 5,000 were struck. Pop 38; 16 finer in 66 (PCGS # 8010) . The rise and demise of this most unusual $3 denomination: Walter Breen in his encyclopedia gives a learned account of the origin (and later extinction) of this odd-sounding denomination: "The usual story has it that $3 gold coins were made only so long as the letter rate remained 3¢, being discontinued when it was changed again, and perhaps in part because of the letter rate change. Whether or not this was the intention of Congress, nevertheless $3's saw little postal use in the West and South, as they were minted in Dahlonega and New Orleans only in 1854, and in San Francisco for circulation only 1855-57 and 1860. Three's thus represent relics of an interesting but abortive experiment: today they are among the most highly coveted of American gold coins. No specific reason was advanced for their discontinuance, though low mintages 1879-89 (testifying to little public demand) may have had something to do with it." Estimated Value $13,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,375